Grave-vault.



-- s1 0 BAUGHN.

GRAVE VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED 110v. 28,1910.

Patented June 6, 1911.

& /4 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL C. BAUGI-IN, 0F CANALOU, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 BOI-IALL H.

'HARRIS, OF CANALOU, MISSOURI.

GRAVE-VAULT.

Patented June 6, 1911.

' Application filed November 28, 1910. 7 Serial No. 594,530.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. BAUGHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canalou, in the county of New Madrid and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Grave-Vault, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to pro vide a grave vault orburial case, so constructed that the products of decomposition may escape therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the burial case may be adapted to house a disinfectant, so as to neutralize the products of decomposition during their egress from the burial case.

Another object of the invention is to improve generally devices of this class, and to provide novel means for assembling and maintaining the proper relative relations between the parts.

The drawings show typical embodiments merely, and it is to be understood that changes, properly falling within the scope of what is claimed, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective, the parts of the structure being separated vertically, in order that the details may more clearly appear; Fig. 2 is a transverse section; and Fig. 3 is a fragmental longitudinal section of the top of the body of the structure; Fig. 4 is a fragmental longitudinal section of the body of the burial case, the View illustrating the means whereby the opening in the body of the case is closed, and the manner in which said means cooperates with the disinfectant pan, to hold the same in place; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the disinfectant pan; and Fig. 6 is a perspective of the spring strip which constitutes at once, the means for closing the outlet in the body of the burial case, and the means for retaining the disinfectant pan in place.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is, with the exception of certain elements hereinafter specifically referred to, preferably fashioned from concrete. The burial case includes a slab 1, upon which a box-like body 2 is adapted to rest, the body 2 being provided with .handles 3, and being open at its lower end, to fit in a groove 4 in the slab 1. Upon the slab 1, withinthe contour of the groove 4, are transverse ribs 5, upon which the coffin is adapted to rest. Obviously, in time of pestilence, and when a speedy burial is desired, the cofiin may be dispensed with, the corpse being laid out directly upon the slab 1.

In the body 2 of the burial case there is an outlet 6, for the products of decomposition. Upon its upper face, and above the outlet 6, the body 2 of the burial case is grooved as shown at 7, to receive the lower edge of a box-like auxiliary receptacle 8. This auxiliary receptacle 8 is provided with an outlet 9, through which the products of decomposition may pass. A flat spring strip 10 is provided, one end 11 of which is embedded in the constituent material of the re ceptacle 8, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The free end 12 of this fiat spring strip rests upon the receptacle 8 above the outlet 9 therein, to serve as a yieldable closure for said outlet, the spring, of course, being fashioned from metal. The receptacle 8 is recessed upon its upper face, beneath the spring 10, as shown at 1 1 in Fig. 3, in order that the spring may have the required resiliency.

The outlet 6 in the body 2 of the burial case is closed by a spring strip 15, mounted similarly to the spring 10 of Fig. 3. A container or pan 18 is adapted to rest upon the body 2, within the contour of the groove7, the auxiliary receptacle 8 being adapted to house this pan 18; as shown most clearly in- Fig. 2. In the pan 18 may be placed any suitable disinfectant, whereby the products of decomposition may be neutralized.

If desired, the spring 15 may be rovided with a transverse seat 16, adapted to interlock with a bail 17 in one end of the pan 18. The free end of the spring 15 thus may be raised, and the bail 17 slipped there under, the spring 15 thus serving to hold the pan 18 in place against slipping about.

In practical operation, as the gases accumulate within the body 2 of the burial case, the spring strip 15 will yield, permitting such gases to pass through the outlet 6 of the body 2 into the auxiliary receptacle 8. The gases will there mingle with the disinfectant and be neutralized, the resulting mixture passing out of the outlet .9 in the auxiliary receptacle 8.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a case; an auxiliary receptacle removably resting upon the case and interengaged therewith against lateral movement; a container located within the auxiliary receptacle and resting upon the case; there being an outlet in the case, around which Outlet the auxiliary receptacle fits, said receptacle having an outlet also, whereby the products of decomposition may pass outwardly from the interior of the case; and movable means engaging the container to hold the same in place upon the case, and to prevent the container from covering the outlet in the case.

2. In a device of the class described, a

case; an auxiliary receptacle resting thereon; there being an outlet in the case, around which outlet the auxiliaryreceptacle fits, said receptacle having an outlet also, whereby the produots of decomposition may pass outwardly from the interior of the case; means for yieldingly closing the outlet on the receptacle; resilient means for closing the outlet in the case; and a container for disinfectant, located within the auxiliary receptacle, and removably engaged with the resilient means for closing the outlet in the case.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL C. BAUGHN.

Witnesses:

IV. R. GRIFFIN, HATTIE HARP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

